Human Rights & Reconciliation
Immigration & Migration

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Protecting the Rights of Migrants and Immigrants

Across the world, people are uprooting themselves seeking better lives in other countries. Yet, millions of people migrating to the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, South Africa and immigrating to the United States are often denied basic rights and face discrimination and exploitation.

Atlantic’s investments have supported groups in these countries advocating for policy reform and working to build opportunity, provide hope and promote dignity for millions of these most vulnerable, marginalized and undervalued individuals.

Watch: When Isaac Lugo was 15, his father was deported. The two had spent nearly Isaac's whole life in the United States. Isaac tells his story with Mike McAuliffe, the boxing trainer who became his foster father.

What We Learned From This Work

The public narrative impacts the success of advocacy on migration and immigration issues, underscoring the importance of investing in strategic communications.

Even a well-constructed and strategic advocacy campaign sometimes cannot surmount policymakers who lack the will to advance legislation. In many cases, advocates have had better results pursuing remedies in court.

It is essential to collect evidence about how migrants are being treated to demonstrate to government the actions needed to remedy inequities in the system and provide essential services.

Making Progress

Here is a sampling of what has been achieved through Atlantic’s work on behalf of immigrants and migrants:

Expanded Legal Rights

Atlantic grantees helped secure greater legal protections for migrants. For example, those protections helped domestic workers, young women and people at risk of human trafficking across Ireland.

Fairer Treatment

South African courts ruled that asylum seekers and refugees are entitled to the same access to education, health and housing as the county’s citizens.

Deferring Deportations

In 2012, President Barack Obama announced the United States would halt deportations of undocumented youth who came into the country as children, and instead would grant them temporary permission to stay.